Quotes by William Ellery Channing

“The world is to be carried forward by truth, which at first offends, which wins its way by degrees, which the many hate and would rejoice to crush.”

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes...”

“Faith is love taking the form of aspiration.”

“The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”

“Why is it that we are so busy with the future? It is not our province; and is there not a criminal interference with Him to whom it belongs, in our feverish, anxious attempts to dispose of it, and ...”

“The home is the chief school of human virtues.”

“Reading is the royal road to intellectual eminence...Truly good books are more than mines to those who can understand them. They are the breathings of the great souls of past times. Genius is not e...”

“The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country could hardly be propagated.”

“a man in earnest finds means, or if he cannot find he creates them. A vigorous purpose makes much out of little, breathes power into weak instruments, disarms difficulties, and even turns them into...”

“The mind, in proportion as it is cut off from free communication with nature, with revelation, with God, with itself, loses its life, just as the body droops when debarred from the air and the chee...”

“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”

“How easy to be amiable in the midst of happiness and success.”

“The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men the opportunity to work out happiness for themselves.”

“God is another name for human intelligence raised above all error and imperfection, and extended to all possible truth.”

“No power in society, no hardship in your condition can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent.”

“It is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which determines the mind's dignity.”

“Nothing which has entered into our experience is ever lost.”

“The world is governed by opinion.”

“We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure. ”

“Life has a higher end, than to be amused.”